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THE SPECIALISTS
PWTORCH ROUNDTABLE: Is something missing from WrestleMania 28 hype?, Or, is WWE right on track? (Part 2)

Mar 25, 2012 - 5:05:10 PM
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PWTorch Specialists Roundtable: Looking at the totality of WrestleMania 28 hype thus far, is something significant missing from the hype? Or, is WWE on-track for next Sunday's PPV?

Shawn Valentino, PWTorch specialist

When looking at the big picture hype leading into Mania, I think there is one match that should be a template for building to a monumental showdown, and that is Triple H vs. Undertaker with HBK as special referee. These three have been brilliant in building tension and anticipation within the context of a wrestling narrative. Additionally, each character has had a well-defined place in the story arc and the result of the match has massive consequences for all three participants.

Unfortunately, I think that intricate plotting and intriguing premise has been missing for essentially all of the other matches. The titles have been completely diminished, I do not care about the fate of either World Champion, and Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus has been predictably awful, given WWE is dealing with two characters that are not really presented in any type of larger-than-life fashion. They are clearly secondary to the main-eventers. I like the Punk vs. Jericho segments about Punk's family because Jericho's performances have been terrific, but it also proves that a World Title is not enough to build a match.

I think that the biggest thing that has been missing is a strong, serious face-to-face segment between Rock and Cena. Their confrontations have involved them undercutting each other, and I have minimal interest in this match. This was an enormous lost opportunity to energize the fanbase and bring new eyes to the product. Additionally, they have failed to create interesting undercard characters that look like they are in position to take off after Taker, Michaels, Triple H and Rock leave.

So, all in all, I believe the build to WrestleMania 28 has been a massive failure on nearly every level. (Read Valentino's regular Magic, Memories, and Mania column, including a special report after Mania Weekend.)

Justin James, PWTorch TV specialist

WWE is attempting to build a WrestleMania around five wrestlers, only one of whom has been on a TV match in the last 12 months. And, of the rest, two have not been in the ring in over a year. Think about that for a moment. The WrestleMania hype is definitely missing something, and that is “substance.” Two years ago, the Shawn Michaels-Undertaker match had hype going back to the Slammys. There was an incredibly powerful story being told. Who could forget when Michaels eliminated Triple H from the Rumble, or superkicked a referee in the Royal Rumble, or came out from underneath the Elimination Chamber to cost Undertaker the World Title? Meanwhile, what has been the story this year? Three older guys - one of which is pretending to not be bald - jabbering at each other over whether or not a non-wrestler is going to be a biased referee? Or, there’s the John Cena–Rock match, a/k/a “the battle of the genitals.” For the amount of TV time this feud is eating up, they aren’t saying much of anything. WWE keeps giving Rock these huge pieces of time and he seems to just ramble about how his crotch can change the course of history or rattle off homophobic insults at a mile a minute. Yawn.

For all of the folks out there talking about how the hype has been great, and they can’t wait for WrestleMania, etc., please explain the Raw ratings. This week’s Raw ratings were in the toilet. This awful rating (and the string of awful ratings) was despite live appearances from The Rock, John Cena, Triple H, HBK, and The Undertaker. In fact, ratings declined in the second half despite the well-advertised “End of an Era” confrontation. Viewers do not seem to care about what The Rock and John Cena have to say to each other, and they seem to care even less about what the “group of three guys with a combined age near 150” have to say to each other! If WWE can’t even pop a ratings bump, I have no clue how they expect this to be a “record breaking WrestleMania.”

Last year, WWE was able to get a ratings bump headed into Mania and the results showed in the buyrate. Now, ratings are cratering. And, I believe it is all a direct result of the lack of substance to the Mania hype. If WWE got a saving throw here, they could have built someone else up to face Undertaker with a “young buck tries to defeat the grizzled veteran” story, let Rock and Cena depend on a simple “who is better?” theme, and built existing stories that had real, provable legs (like Mark Henry, Daniel Bryan, and Big Show had) to peak at Mania. Instead, I feel they forgot about their really exciting stories and replaced them with boring, soulless, bland stories that depended purely on increasingly devalued stars to carry them. To me, it’s a clear failure. (Read James's WWE NXT & Superstars TV reports every week.)

Jimmy Eaton, Retrospective of the Common Fan specialist

I think the build-up for WM28 has been on the right track for the most part, although for me when it comes to missing pieces, I'm really sad that there isn't a more solid undercard with the U.S. and Intercontinental Titles being more recognized. Overall, I think the undercard is severely lacking meaningful stories apart from a basic GM angle. While I'm looking forward to most of the card, if not all of it, I think an undercard can really help a viewer decide if a show will be worth their money, which is why I think the lack of a MITB match the last few years hasn't helped. Will it matter at the end of the day, though, with Rock and Cena? Maybe not, but I stand by that belief.

As for the larger-scale stories, I've been pretty pleased with all of them minus the Sheamus and Bryan angle. Not that the match won't be good, it will, but I think there isn't a solid-enough back story that really could help push a few more buys. Both guys have done well though with what they've had to work with (and A.J. has been great with Bryan). As for Punk-Jericho and Triple H-Undertaker with Michaels involved, I can't complain much. I really have enjoyed those build-ups despite some of the petty things that can be pointed out. All men are professionals and should deliver a hell of a show next Sunday.

Lastly, I have to admit that I'm actually pleased with the lack of major announcements for guests or singers apart from the few entrance performances and Lilian Garcia singing America the Beautiful. I think the focus has for once not been on who is going to be at WrestleMania NOT wrestling, but rather those actually IN a match or major storyline. Last year, Rock not wrestling was definitely a downer and I really feel for The Miz not being involved. Also, with so many guys who played a role last year battling injuries (Christian, Henry, Del Rio, etc.), I think the 12-man tag match will hopefully be at least almost as entertaining as a MITB match. It's just a shame more emphasis hasn't been on some of the other matches minus the big three. (Agree? Disagree? Follow @TheCommonFan on Twitter to start the debate!)


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